24th July, 2013
Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi on Wednesday selected 18 players for the second leg of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) against the Ivorian Elephants in Abidjan on July 27.
Keshi disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja after the final 18 were selected out of the 24 home-based players invited to camp.
Top on the list of the dropped players is Gambo Muhammed who plays for Kano Pillars. Gambo suffered a knock in Monday’s training and it is obvious he has not gained full fitness.
Dele Olorundare(Sunshine stars), Ganiyu Ogungbe(Kwara utd), and Haruna Babalo(Nasarawa utd) were also excluded from the contingent.
Others are Mohammed Jiya (Bayelsa United FC) and Eziekel Bassey(Lobi Stars)
“You know it is difficult after staying up to two or three weeks with them; they know you and the rapport is very sound, letting them go is very difficult.
“But, I have to make it easy for myself; so, I allowed Daniel and Coach Vale to do the rest and to talk to the ones that are leaving, so I don’t have to cry,” he said.
The coach said although the game would not be an easy one, his players were ready to make themselves and the country proud.
He said there was no room to entertain fear, stating that they would go there (Abidjan) and do their job.
“I think the players are ready, they want to do something to make themselves proud and Nigerians proud as well; so, they are ready.
“If we are entertaining fear we might as well just stay back instead of going to play, we just have to believe in ourselves and in what we have got as a team and go out and do our job,” he stated.
The match would be the final match against the Elephants to qualify the team for the 2014 CHAN finals in January in South Africa.
THE FULL LIST
GOALKEEPERS: Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland FC)
DEFENDERS: Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves FC); Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars FC); Kwambe Solomon
(Sunshine Stars FC); Chibuzor Okonkwo (Enugu Rangers FC); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars FC); Benjamin Francis (Heartland FC);
MIDFIELDERS: Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers FC); Rabiu Mohammed (Kano Pillars FC); Olufemi Oladapo (Shooting Stars FC); Ayo Saka (Enyimba FC);
STRIKERS: Gomo Onduku (Bayelsa United FC); Ifeanyi Edeh (Enyimba FC); Ezekiel Mbah (Akwa United FC); Abdullahi Gero (Enugu Rangers FC); Osadinye Joseph (Warri Wolves FC); Etebo Oghene (Warri Wolves FC);